Huge Roman Bronze Buckle-Shaped Fitting

The larger fragment with stepped neck and rim, bearing a leaping lion right in raised relief; the smaller fragment with leonine protome; both in terra sigillata africana; modern suspension loop to reverse. 54 grams total, 35-60 mm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

The most ancient production of red African ware began in the Flavian Age. Towards the second half of the 3rd century A.D. – but most probably before – the production reached its zenith and African redware pottery was imported from all the Imperial provinces.

Depicted nude in contrapposto pose, his weight on his right leg, the left leg flexed and advancing; the hair and beard formed as a dense mass of curls; a full beard complementing his luxuriant curls; slender, muscular body with defined anatomical details; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 384 grams total, 15.5 cm high including stand



with Münzen und Medaillen AG, Basel, 02.1976, lot 51. Acquired in Europe in 2017. Accompanied by copies of relevant pages of Münzen und Medaillen AG. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11792-206488.

The prototype of Zeus Brontaios, or Zeus the Thunderer, has been attributed to a Greek original by sculptor Leochares, c. 370-360 B.C. The statue was realised by Leochares to celebrate the founding of Megalopolis, in 371 B.C. The god would have held a sceptre in his left hand and cradled his thunderbolt in his right.

Green with applied slightly raised foot, u-shaped cross section with stepped double rim 54 grams, 75 mm wide



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.